Split nut adapter tool



March 4, 1969 A. ROMAK SPLIT NUT ADAPTER TOOL Sheet l of 2 Filed June 7, 1967 nvrzuroe az'fiagmd .Qrroeml March 4, 1969' A. ROMAK SPLIT NUT ADAPTER TOOL Sheet 01'2 Filed June 7. 1967 United States Patent 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A split-nut adapter tool for adjustment of a longitudinally split sleeve engaging a pair of co-axial, spaced apart threaded rods at the ends thereof such that rotation of the sleeve will vary the axial spacing of the rods one relative to the other, the tool having a pair of separable body portions and a cooperating dovetail joint comprising locking flange and slot portions to enable assembly of the body portions about the collar, and a radially disposed key formation extending from the inner surface of one body portion of the tool to engage the split in the collar. The tool has an external configuration suitable for engagement by means of a standard wrench for rotational adjustment of the collar.

Background of the invention This invention relates generally to split-nut adapter tools and more particularly to an adapter tool of the character described for use in adjusting a smooth surface sleeve with a standard wrench.

Adjustment collars or sleeves which join threaded rods are well known. Such sleeves are commonly used in vehicle steering systems to provide toe-in or toe-out adjustment of the front wheel of such vehicles. Standard adjusting sleeve members are internally threaded and join the threaded steering tie rods of the vehicles front wheels. The sleeves have an open seam or longitudinally extending split which provides a tool engaging slot extending the length thereof. when it is desired to adjust the alignment of the steering system, a mechanic employs a standard spanner-type wrench or like tool having a single tooth adapted to engage the sleeve slot. The Wrench is then moved to rotate the sleeve. Rotation of the sleeve varies the longitudinal spacing between the steering tie rods in turnbuckle fashion to effect adjustment of the wheel alignment.

It will be appreciated that the method currently employed to adjust the wheel alignment of a vehicle is not entirely satisfactory. The adjusting parts of practically all vehicle steering systems are disposed in a very congested area. In addition, the position of the slot on the sleeve is usually such that manipulation of the wrench is very difficult, if not impossible. This is due to the fact that the standard adjustment sleeve has but one slot for.

engagement by a standard wrench. Since it is often necessary to impart many complete turns to the adjusting sleeve to make the proper wheel alignment adjustment, the present method is not satisfactory. Repeatedly disengaging and re-engaging the work tool relative to the sleeve is a tedious task, particularly in close quarters where frequently less than a quarter-turn at a time is possible.

It is thus desirable to provide a tool which is adapted to engage a standard adjusting sleeve and present an exterior surface with a multiplicity of tool-engaging portions for adjustment by a standard wrench. Such a de- "ice vice is of necessity constructed of two or more parts to permit assembly about the sleeve to which no end-wise access is available. Such device further could be used in conjunction with any standard wrench to which it is adapted, be it of the open-end, spanner, or single prong type.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide an adapter tool having at least first and second separable body portions with locking means therebetween to enable assembly of said portions about a sleeve member, the tool having key means on the inner surface thereof for engagement with a slot in the sleeve, and further having wrench engaging means to enable ready rotation of said sleeve in a highly congested work area.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tool having a plurality of wrench engaging means disposed thereon such that at least one of said means is always presented conveniently for receipt of the operative part of a wrench with which said tool is adapted for use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tool split into at least two parts and having means to removably lock said parts in place until the adjustment operation is concluded.

Further objects and advantages to be obtained in the practice of this invention will occur to those skilled in this art as a description of the invention is set forth hereinafter in connection with the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of the front steering system of a wheeled vehicle showing the disposition of the Work part and the work area with which the invention is concerned.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adapter tool of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 2, but with the body portions of the tool in partially engaged position.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the adapter tool of the invention with sleeve adjustment member shown engaged thereby.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4 in the direction indicated.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the sleeve adjustment member and tie rods with which the invention is concerned.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4, in the direction indicated, showing the tool of the invention and a fragment of an open-end wrench engaged thereupon.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of a spanner wrench engaged on a sleeve adjustment member as taught in the prior art.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 7, illustrating a modification of the invention.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated the principal parts of the front steering assembly 10 of a typical wheeled vehicle. Chasis frame 12 supports suspension members 14 and 16, to which in turn are engaged vehicle wheels 18 and 20. Steering knuckles 22 and 24 have tie rods 26, 28 engaged thereto. The said tie rods are connected to a steering link 30 which is operated by operating link 32 and a steering gear 34.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, each tie rod member 26, 28 is comprised of two aligned parts 36 and 38. Said parts 36, 38 are externally threaded about an end portion thereof and are engaged together by sleeve member or adjusting collar 40. The sleeve member 40 is internally threaded and thus serves to separate or pull together the tie rod parts 36, 38 in turnbuckle fashion to change the axial spacing between the tie rod members. Sleeve member 40 is axially split on one side thereof to provide an axial slot 52 extending the length thereof for a purpose to be described hereinbelow. Clamps 42 and 44 are positioned about the ends of sleeve member 40 and can be tightened by screws 46, 48 for purposes of tightly engaging sleeve 40 about parts 36, 38 and maintaining threaded engagement therewith after adjustment has been made. Clamps 42, 44 are prevented from lateral movement upon sleeve 40 by projections 50.

Adjustment of vehicle wheel alignment has, in the past, been accomplished in a manner illustrated by FIG. 8, labeled PRIOR ART. Such adjustment was made with the use of a standard spanner-type wrench 54 having an open, semicircular socket 58, and a slot engaging tooth 56 extending radially inward therefrom. The wrench 54 was wrapped about sleeve member 40 with tooth 56 disposedwithin slot 52 of said sleeve. The worker then grasps the handle of wrench 54 and, by exerting pressure thereon, causes said sleeve to rotate, thus separating or pulling together tie rod parts 36, 33. The method disclosed by the prior art is disadvantageous primarily because of the congested nature of the area in which sleeve member 40 is located. The position of slot 52 may be such that convenient engagement thereof by tooth 56 is impossible.

The tool 60 of this invention is shown in assembled form in FIG. 2. Tool 60, in assembled form, has a cylindrical inner bore 66 and a hex-nut configuration 68 forming the outer surface thereof. The inner surface 66 has a radial dimension substantially similar to that of the sleeve 40 such that the tool 60 can be assembled about sleeve 40 with a minimum of tolerance between the two parts.

Tool 60 is split about division line 70 to form two separable body portions 62 and 64. The body portion 62 has a pair of flanges 72, 74 located along the line 70 and portion 64 has a pair of grooves 76, 78 which are matingly engageable with flanges 72, 74 along said line 70. The said flanges 72, 74 and grooves 76, 78 together form cooperating locking means to enable assembly of said body portions 62, 64. Flanges 72, 74 and grooves 7 6, 78 are of substantially dovetail configuration with the roots of the said flanges being of lesser dimension than the crowns thereof. The dovetail configuration is such that upon assembly of said body portions 62, 64, the portions cannot be separated other than by sliding said portions, one relative the other.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modified form of the tool 60 which includes a ball 82 biased out of socket 84 by spring 88 in body portion 62. A detent 86 located in body portion 64 is intended to receive ball 82 when portions 62 and 64 are in assembled configuration. Protrusions 90 extend above division line 70 on portion 64 and serve to retard movement of ball 82 out of detent 86 when said ball is in place. The ball 82 and dent 86 prevent accidental displacement of body portions 62, 64 when assembled about sleeve 40.

The body portion 62 of tool 60 has a tooth or extension member 80 positioned thereon and extending radially into the cylindrical bore 66 of tool 60. Said tooth 80 can be integrally formed with portion 62, or preferentially, secured by weldment in slot 82 of said portion. Tooth 80 extends the length of bore 66 and is adapted to seat in slot 52 of sleeve 40. The lateral dimension of tooth 80 is such that a snug fit can be maintained within slot 52 when portion 62 is in position upon sleeve 40.

In use, tool 60 is first disassembled into its two component portions 62, 64 by sliding one portion relative the other along division line 70. This step is illustrated by FIG. 3. Body portion 62 is then placed upon sleeve 40 at any convenient location thereon with tooth positioned within slot 52. Body portion 64 is next positioned upon sleeve 40 beneath portion 62 such that grooves 76, 78 are in alignment with respective flanges 72, 74. Tool 60 is then assembled about sleeve 40 by sliding portion 64 relative to portion 62 such that the locking means are engaged. Upon assembly, tool 60 presents an outer surface 68 of hex-nut configuration with a multiplicity of wrench engaging surfaces adapted or convenient engagement by a standard open-end wrench 84, as seen in FIG. 7.

It will be appreciated that upon assembly about sleeve 40, a purchase may be had upon said tool to rotate said sleeve irrespective of the circumferential location of slot 52 relative to rods 36, 38. The purchase surface I have described is intended for illustrative purposes only. It is contemplated that minor variations in structural features and arrangement of parts thereof may occur to the skilled artisan without departing from the scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. For instance, in lieu of a hex-nut formation on the outer surface of the tool 60, there may be provided a smooth surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures for receipt of the pin portion of a standard spanner type wrench, or the like.

It is believed that the invention in its various embodiments has been sufiiciently described to enable the skilled artisan to understand and practice the same. The invention has been distinctly pointed out in the appended claims intended to be broadly and liberally construed.

What it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An adapter tool for rotatably adjusting an internally threaded sleeve member with a wrench or the like, said sleeve member being axially split on one side to provide an axial slot and having its ends respectively engaged upon threaded rods whereby rotation of the sleeve will vary the axial spacing between said rods, said tool having at least first and second separable body portions and said portions having cooperating locking means to enable assembling said portions about said sleeve by sliding said portions one relative the other, said locking means also preventing said body portions from moving radially apart, said body portions having respective grooves of part cylindrical concave configuration and being related such that when so assembled there will be a cylindrical bore in said tool telescopically and slidably engaged upon the surface of said sleeve, key means on the inner surface of one of said body portions adapted to engage said slot, the said tool having multiple rotative disposition wrench engaging means whereby, when said tool is assembled about the sleeve with said key means disposed within said slot, a purchase upon said tool may be had to rotate said sleeve irrespective of the circumferential location of said slot relative to said rods.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cooperating locking means comprise a flange on one of said body portions and a complementary groove to cooperate with said flange on the other of said portions.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein said flange and groove substantially are of dovetail configuration.

4. A tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wrench engaging means comprise a plurality of pairs of planar surfaces, each pair being spaced parallel each other for receipt of an open end wrench.

5. A tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wrench engaging means comprise a plurality of spaced annular bores adapted for receipt of the pin portion of a pin spanner wrench or the like.

6. A tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for joining said body portions further includes a spring biased ball in one of said body portions and a detent in the said other body portion for receipt of said b ll 5 6 whereby when said body portions are assembled about 2,718,806 9/1955 Clark 81-125 said sleeve, said ball and detent retard separation 2,801,561 8/1957 Bonner 8190.3 thereof- 3,008,363 11/1961 Cook 81-903 X References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

625,448 5/1899 Jaenichen 85-33 G. WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examiner. 815,982 3/1906 Schubert et a1. 8533 

